EXECUTIONTHE DISCIPLINE OF GETTING THINGS DONE

RASHEED Adegoke

WE WOULD LEARN…• …how to turn strategy to action• …about personal effectiveness• …winning leadership skills• …why good strategies sometimes fail• …why not so good strategies sometimes succeed• …how to manage our time• …the many meaning of execution

OUTLINEWhat is Execution?Why learn about execution?Key Execution Skills Personal Effectiveness Team leadership Communication

Key Learning pointsDiscussion

WHAT IS EXECUTION?

EXECUTION IS…The discipline or the set of actions that ensures what needs to be done gets done……and more importantly that it gets done right and on time.

WHY LEARN ABOUT EXECUTION?• Is Execution such an important topic?• Is Execution not the same thing as strategy?• Can Execution be learnt or its pure luck?• What’s the role of external factors/interference?• Why is execution failure commonplace?

Execution IS NOT StrategyStrategy is a proposal on the way to get to the promised land (incredible profitability for shareholders, increase in market share, huge cost saving etc.)Execution is travelling down the road and reaching the goal. Without proper execution, you only end up with a huge gap between strategic promises/intent and actual results.

Examples ofExecution failures…“In the year 2000 alone forty CEOs of the top two hundred companies on fortune 500 list were removed-not retired but fired or made to resign”This trend continued in 2001 and was clearly evident in 2002This affects not only the CEO but also the employees, alliance partners, shareholders and even customers.…lastly, Nigeria is also an example of execution failure

Compaq CEO Eckhard Pfeiffer

DEVELOPING EXECUTION SKILLS• INDIVIDUAL EXECUTION: Personal Effectiveness• GROUP/TEAM EXECUTION: Leadership Skills

1. Keep account of your TIME2. Know what NOT TO DO3. Cash in on your STRENGTHS4. Avoid the PERFECTION TRAP5. Don’t PROCRASTINATE6. Minimize INTERRUPTIONS7. Keep CLUTTER OFF YOUR DESK

INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIONPersonal Effectiveness

Jack Welch

1. Avoid (further) time wasters2. Keep a log of your time usage3. Prioritise based on importancenot urgency

INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIONKeep account of your TIME

Jack Welch

1. Don’t wait for the perfect time because there ain’t any2. Don’t wait till you come up with the perfect solution because…3. Only few occasions in life require perfection. 99% of the time, less than perfect, that works, will do.4. Perfection leads to procrastination.

INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIONAvoid the perfection trap

Jack Welch

1. Keep these to the barest minimum• Meetings• Telephone calls• Visitors2. Any meeting that does not end up making you wiser should not occupy prime-time3. Maintain visiting times within the week and block out other times from obtrusive visitors

INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIONMinimize interruptions

Jack Welch

TEAM LEADERSHIPTo be effective as a leader, you must first master the personal effectiveness skills.

Don’t forget your troops will learn more from what you do rather than what you ask them to do…

1. Know your People and your Business2. Insist on realism3. Set clear goals and priorities4. Reward the doers 5. Follow through6. Expand people’s capabilities7. Know yourself

TEAM EXECUTION7 Essential Leadership Behaviors

Jack Welch

7 Leadership…Know your people and business

Know your people…Build mutual trust between yourself and your peopleKnow your business…And help your people also know as much as you.

7 Leadership…Insist on realism

Realism is the heart of executionYou need to know your team’s strength and weaknessesDo not act the proverbial ostrich about the weaknesses…

Focus on few very clear priorities and make sure everyone grasp themSpeak in clear, common sense languageLive by your priorities…

7 Leadership…Set Clear goals and priorities

Link reward to performanceLink individual targets to corporate objectives

7 Leadership…Reward the doers

Periodically cross check that everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing.Have feedback mechanisms that throw up exceptions

7 Leadership…Follow through

7 Leadership…Expand people’s capabilities

One of the most important parts of your job is to pass it on to the next generationCoach your people to develop their skillsA good leader must have a visible successor…

7 Leadership…Know yourself

Know yourself: be authentic, not fakeKeep ego in checkShow humility… you may be able to learn from others in the teamBe confident

COMMUNICATION• Execution cannot happen without robust dialogue• Leaders must create the environment for open communication• Formality suppress dialogue, informality encourages it• DO NOT UNDO YOURSELF BY ENCOURAGING BACKSTABBING, “EYE-SERVICE”, ETC.

LEARNING POINTS

EXECUTIONKey learning points

Execution is key to individual, team and corporate successGood strategies may fail due to poor executionNot so good strategies may success due to excellent executionLeaders must drive executionStrong, effective individuals make for efficient team executionRemember and use the 7-skills for personal effectiveness and team leadership

THANK YOU